New Here

Forest Park Church exists to

reach *imperfect people and teach them

to follow Jesus one step at a time.

*Broken. Flawed. Loved. Accepted.

At Forest Park Church, our doors are open to you! Regardless of your present condition or spiritual journey, you’re welcome.

We know that being a guest at a church can be intimidating. So, we want your experience at Forest Park to be helpful and encouraging. Therefore, we do everything we can to ensure that you are welcomed and that your time with us is positive. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the music, the messages, and the friendly people.

We want to help you develop authentic and enduring relationships with others throughout the Acadiana area. So whether you’re a skeptic, a seeker, a person who’s just starting to ask questions about God, or a committed follower of Jesus who wants to learn, grow and become more passionate in your relationship with God, we want you to find a home at Forest Park.

So, we’ve put this site together to help you on your journey toward making Forest Park your home. If you can’t find what you are looking for or if you have a question that is not answered on this site, please let us know. We look forward to serving you!

WHAT ARE YOUR WEEKEND SERVICES LIKE?

Each week at Forest Park Church you’ll find a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with great music and a message that challenges and encourages. Infants and toddlers are cared for in a safe and fun environment and your kids aged 3-7 are provided their own Junior Chapel kids service.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON MY FIRST VISIT?

If you are our guest for the first time, we will not embarrass you, ask you stand up, or expect you to give money. We know you may want to check out the church and “be anonymous” for a while—and that’s fine with us! Come in, enjoy the experience, and see if Forest Park Church is for you.

WHEN DO YOU MEET?

Sunday morning beginning at 9:30AM we offer Sunday School and then starting at 10:15AM our main services start. We offer a infant/toddler nursery, and a Junior Chapel kids service during the main service. Sunday at 6PM we have our evening service.

WHAT DO I WEAR?

We are more concerned about you than we are what you are wearing. Dress casually and comfortably and you will feel right at home.

Your children are a top priority. Our nursery is clean, safe, and staffed with loving volunteers. We offer Junior Chapel, a kids service for kids aged 3-7, during adult services.

HOW CAN I MEET OTHERS AND GET CONNECTED?

There are many ways to get involved. You can begin by attending ……. which is scheduled throughout the year (and available online). Small groups are another great way to connect. In each of these, you can build friendships, learn more about the life of our church, and have the opportunity to grow in your faith.

WHY DO YOU HAVE SMALL GROUPS?

Community groups are an important part of Forest Park Church. Groups allow you to meet other members and develop relationships that will encourage your relationship with God. As Forest Park Church grows, community groups allow us to stay connected.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED IN A SMALL GROUP?

Community groups meet throughout the Acadiana area and provide a place for study, fellowship, and support. Wherever you live, there’s probably a group near you. If you’re interested, simply call our office at . Also, check out our Groups page.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

The best way to understand and learn about any community is to experience it. Statements of faith can tell you what a group’s beliefs are, but they can’t tell you who they are. If you’d like to discover who we are at Forest Park Church, please join us on Sundays for any of our gathering at: 10:15AM, and 6:00PM.

If the actual “Statements of Faith” are what you are interested in, keep reading…

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven and will return again someday to earth to gather his people to bring them back to heaven with him.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation.

We believe that the Holy Spirit has not ceased functioning. Rather, He is active, functioning today in the lives of believers as He functioned in the lives of believers after the ascension of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we believe that every believer should seek to be continually “filled” with God’s Spirit. Being “filled” with God’s Spirit will result in a provision of power for living, an understanding of spiritual truth, guidance in doing what is right, a deeper expression of spiritual fruit, greater spiritual growth, a more effective prayer life, and a demonstration of spiritual gifts. We believe that it is the responsibility of every believer to minister according to the gifts and grace of God that is given to him. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily.

We believe people are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us were born with a nature that is disobedient toward God. This nature is “sin”. This nature separates people from God and causes many problems in life.

We believe man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe in Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life.

ABOUT ETERNITY

We believe people were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. Therefore, we also believe in the resurrection of the dead: first, the righteous unto eternal life and second, the ungodly unto eternal separation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life.

We believe that the church, which is the body of Christ, is an organism made up of all born-again persons. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament.

We understand no one is perfect. Everyone is flawed and broken. But humanity has enough enemies; we choose to be friends. We use our influence to lift up Jesus, rather than to condemn people. Therefore, we declare and demonstrate the radical grace of God by walking toward the mess in the lives of people without bias to religion, race, politics, gender or behaviors.

DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO FIND PEOPLE

Behind everything we do is the conviction, “lost people matter to God” (Luke 15). All people are important to us; however, lost people are our priority. Therefore, we intentionally bend experiences to engage and make sense to people who do not follow Jesus. And we give our energy and resources to reaching people before keeping people.

CREATE CIRCLES

Commitments and convictions are not enough! The greatest opportunity to experience life change is within the context of healthy relationships – circles of friends. Healthy friendships give you the encouragement and relationships necessary to keep growing and live life to its fullest. Therefore, we create opportunities for people to make friends and form healthy relationships through an expanding network of groups.

KEEP RUNGS IN THE LADDER

Everyone has a next step and when teachings and growth systems are made easy, obvious and strategic, a person will most likely take it. Therefore, we simplify information and minimize steps to assist everyone with going further, faster.

REFLECT JESUS

People who follow Jesus change. Therefore, we encourage and challenge people to abandon selfish and destructive behaviors, embrace faith, hope and love and reflect Jesus in every area.

GRAB TOWELS RATHER THAN TITLES

Jesus has all authority; yet on the night he was betrayed, rather than leveraging his power and position to force his followers to serve him, he grabbed a towel, and washed their feet. We are convinced; people who follow Jesus serve others. Therefore, we grab towels instead of titles and serve rather than waiting to be served.

LIFT LIDS

A person’s leadership ability is the lid determining his or her effectiveness. And the leaders of Forest Park Church determine its impact potential. We desire everyone to reach his or her ability and Forest Park to have maximum impact. Therefore, we lift the lids of people through intentional leadership development to accomplish the mission of Jesus at Forest Park Church and beyond.